Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer to retire after season

Frank Beamer has decided this will be his last season as Virginia Tech’s coach, ending a 29-year run in Blacksburg, Va.

The 69-year-old, who has more victories than any active major college football coach, announced Sunday he would retire after the season. He is 235-120-2 since taking over at Virginia Tech in 1987. His overall record is 277-143-4 in a 35-year coaching career.

Beamer led the Hokies to the 1999 national championship game, in addition to seven conference titles, four in the Atlantic Coast Conference and three in the Big East, plus eight BCS bowl games.

Beamer said he will discuss his decision at his regularly scheduled news conference Monday.

While Beamer gave no prior public indication he was planning to step down, the announcement is not surprising. The Hokies have slipped in recent seasons and are 4-5 this year after beating Boston College on Saturday. Beamer also had throat surgery after the regular season last year, missing most of the Hokies’ bowl preparations until joining them at the Military Bowl the day before the game.

“I was going to wait until the end of the season to make this announcement, but I’ve always believed in being open and honest with my players and coaches,” Beamer said.

::

Hawaii fired Norm Chow as coach, one day after the Rainbow Warriors dropped to 2-7 with a 58-7 home loss to Air Force. David Matlin, Hawaii’s athletic director, said Chris Naeole will finish the season as interim head coach. Chow was 10-36 in four seasons at Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors are 0-5 this season in the Mountain West.

::

Missouri suspended junior quarterback Maty Mauk for the rest of the season for disciplinary reasons, just six days after reinstating him. The first suspension was for a violation of program policies. Coach Gary Pinkel declined to specify the circumstances of Mauk’s second suspension. He also declined to say whether he had planned to give Mauk back the starting job. Freshman Drew Lock has made four starts since Mauk was first suspended.